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For the past five years, Colette had spent nearly every work day looking after the details of his business life--and his private life She dealt with the women, too, and there was no lack in that depart, since Christian was rich, powerful and dyna, these relationships never lasted long
She and Derek were grateful for the s for the house and traveling They’d taken trips to Australia and New Zealand, Europe and China, purchased new cars and dined out often Colette enjoyed the benefits of her job Then they’d decided to start their faan She couldn’t get pregnant There seemed to be no obvious reason, but Derek refused to seek nancy happened, it happened and if not, that was fine by him, too It wasn’t fine with Colette; she wanted children, and her inability to conceive had devastated her
After her husband’s death, Christian had been exceptionally kind The biggest and eave her a month off with pay, of which she’d taken teeks After that, it was either go back to work or go crazy As much as possible, her work life returned to normal--until the company Christements for the party, which was held at a posh don hotel and took place on the third Friday of Dece It was her first Christmas without Derek, so her parents had wanted her to join the late Saturday afternoon
To blame alcohol for what happened would’ve been too easy Yes, she’d had too ne and there’d been plenty of it available Christian had been drinking, too Perhaps lasses; she hadn’t kept count They were both a long way fro clearheaded and sober, that was for sure
At the end of the party, in the wee hours of the , she and Christian were the only people left He’d thanked her for her part ina success She’d already received her Christift--a caold chain Colette hadn’t knohat to say She couldn’t i the tiifts on his behalf The gesture had touched her deeply With this gift, Christian was telling her how sorry he was that she’d lost her husband He was letting her know he appreciated everything she’d done for him and for the company
Her eyes had clouded with tears He tried to disratitude but she wouldn’t allow him to do that Impetuously she stood on the tips of her toes and kissed his cheek Christian clasped her shoulders and stared down at her, his brow furrowed Then slowly, as though he aiting for her to stop him, he lowered his entle expression of thanks she ht have expected Colette was knocked off balance, physically and emotionally
When the kiss ended, they were both breathing hard He looked at her as if he’d never seen her before Heshe couldn’t quite hear; aa room No one needed to spell out his intentions, or her own She wanted hi and even as he led her to the elevator and then to the suite, she knew this was a mistake Yet she couldn’t
When Christian unlocked the door and they entered the room, she made one feeble effort to introduce a note of reason
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" she’d asked, barely recognizing her own voice
Christian had responded with a soft laugh Then they were kissing again, his ue found hers The passion in hih to breathe In a brief moment of sanity, she tried to talk but all that escaped were incoherent sounds that seee hi off her clothes as they made their way across the suite They literally fell onto the bed The ache in her was so powerful, so strong, that she couldn’t think, couldn’t speak A sob rose in her throat but his deep, open- love to her…
He was an accorant him that Her body hummed with pleasure, her senses completely alive Christian kne to satisfy a wo what she did about his history o
He turned her face toward his so she couldn’t avoid his gaze His eyes burned into hers and he brought his ain She didn’t want to respond and yet she found it impossible not to